Choosing Roman Blinds and Shades

If you want to give your window dressing a softer look then roman blinds (also called roman shades) may be the perfect solution.

Minimalist, contemporary and cost-effective roman blinds remain one of the most popular home window fashions because they are simple, easy to clean and stylish.

Available in a wide range of fabrics, colours, patterns and styles, roman blinds provide versatile light filtering and control and can be made to match any room décor in your home or apartment.

A roman shade folds up accordion-style, either from the bottom up or top down, and operated either by lift cord or cordless lift system and attaches either inside the window opening or outside the window alcove.

Roman blinds and shades add a unique designer look to your room decor while also being versatile and easy to operate as window dressings!

Why Choose Roman Shades?

A roman shade makes a versatile, attractive window dressing with many advantages over other window coverings. When you raise your roman shade, it gathers at the top of the window opening, providing a decorative window top treatment and allowing as much natural light as possible into the room. Lowering the shade will filter or block out light, depending on the type and weight of fabric you select. Putting the roman blind down gives you privacy when needed.

Elegant and simple, the roman blind can be made in nearly any fabric you like; some provide light filtering while others are more suited to darkening the room. You can install a roman shade by itself or in tandem with other window treatment elements such as a valance, side curtains and decorative hardware for a unique designer look.

Types of Roman Blinds and Shades

With so many options from which to choose, selecting the right roman blinds can be a fun and challenging part of your interior design project. Follow these tips to select the style of roman shade that best suits your room décor:

Bamboo Roman Shades – give your room a natural texture and warmth with a roman shade made of thin bamboo canes, jute, grasses or other similar woven wood fabrics. Opaque, the bamboo roman shade will create a dappled effect of light on your walls and floors as the sunlight shines between the weave; choose a denser bamboo fabric to block out light and darken the room or a lighter weave if you prefer to let in more filtered light.

Roman blinds make an elegant window treatment in this traditional style home office decor.

Fabric Roman Blinds – fabrics can be selected to go with almost any home or room décor. From elegant silk or damask to floral prints, vibrant stripes or bold geometric shapes to solid colours, you have an infinite array of fabric choices when selecting panels for your roman shades. Some roman shades will have flat panels, while others may be hobbled or gathered to add depth and flowing curves.

Insulated Roman Shades – if you live in a very cold climate or have “drafty” windows, you may want to consider insulated roman shades to help keep your room cosy and warm on those cold days.

Relaxed Roman Shades – with a less formal shape and swag look, a relaxed roman shade is great if you have a country style room décor. Usually the relaxed roman shade will be chosen in a plain, light-coloured fabric since the style can be overdone if loud plaids or stripes are chosen.

Choosing Roman Shade Colours and Patterns

Most roman shades are available in either light filtering or room darkening fabrics. Coordinating colour and pattern with the weight of the panels selected will ensure you get the look you want and also enough light and privacy control to suit any room. Follow these tips when selecting your colours and patterns:

Stripes and Patterns – stripes and patterns fit in well with many décor styles, including transitional, contemporary or traditional. Pair them with solid-coloured draperies for a nice designer look.

Solids – choose solid colours to solidify or accent your room’s colour palette; if you have used a rich red or earthy brown in your furniture upholstery, you can pick up this colour and use it as a solid fabric colour for your Roman blind. Or, you might choose something bright that accents the room; be careful not to overpower the room though.

Textures – whether you use the look of woven wood fabric as mentioned above or you prefer the texture of brushed suede, a knitted pattern, smooth and shimmering silk or a translucent sheer fabric, texture play an important part in how well your roman shade matches the rest of the room décor.

Pair your Roman shades with decorative curtains to add style and light control to your window dressings.

Roman Shade Lift Controls

While traditional roman blinds are operated using a simple cordless lift, today manufacturers offer several lift options:

Cordless Roman Blind Lift System

• Creates a clean, finished profile and no dangling lift cords to distract the eye
• Just pull up on the handle to open and push down to close your roman shade
• Absence of lift cords provides enhanced safety in a home with children and/or pets

Top Down/Bottom Up Roman Blind Cordless Lift System

• Provides more versatile light and privacy control
• Lower the shade from the top down, bottom up or both to give your window a different look as desired

Top Down/Bottom Up Lift Cord

• Use a cord lift to lower the shade from the bottom up, top down or both
• Available in longer and wider variety of sizes for custom-sized or larger windows

Continuous Cord Loop

• No cords dangling; cord is the same length no matter the position of the shade
• Continuous loop operation makes it easy to open wider, heavier shades, making it a good choice for covering a large window opening

Roman Shade with 2-on-1 Headrail

• Made to accommodate very wide windows or multiple window openings along a single wall
• Has two roman shades hung on a single headrail unit, each operated separately.

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